OREM, Utah — The FBI has released two photos of a person of interest in the shooting death of Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist and ally of former President Donald Trump. The shooting occurred Wednesday at Utah Valley University, where Kirk was speaking about social issues. As of Thursday, the shooter remained unidentified and at large, prompting federal investigators to seek public assistance in the case.

The released images show a person wearing a hat, sunglasses, and a long-sleeve black shirt. Authorities are offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. Investigators have gathered several clues, including a palm print, a shoe impression, and a Mauser .30-caliber bolt-action rifle found in a wooded area near the university. The rifle was hidden in a towel, and forensic analysis is underway to determine its connection to the shooting.

The attack unfolded in broad daylight as Kirk addressed an audience at the Sorensen Center courtyard. Video footage captured the moment a single shot rang out, striking Kirk in the neck. Witnesses reported a chaotic scene as attendees screamed and fled. Robert Bohls, the FBI's top agent in Salt Lake City, stated, "I can tell you this was a targeted event."

Kirk was known for his role in mobilizing young Republican voters and was a prominent figure on college campuses. He was shot while participating in what was billed as the first stop on his "American Comeback Tour." The event had sparked controversy, with an online petition circulating to prevent him from speaking, garnering nearly 1,000 signatures. The university defended Kirk's appearance, citing First Amendment rights.

In the moments leading up to the shooting, Kirk was engaged in a discussion about gun violence. Eyewitness Madison Lattin described the horror of the moment, saying, "Blood is falling and dripping down, and you’re just like so scared, not just for him but your own safety."

The shooting has drawn bipartisan condemnation. Trump announced he would award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the U.S. Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha, planned to visit Kirk's family in Salt Lake City. Vance reflected on their friendship, stating, "So much of the success we’ve had in this administration traces directly to Charlie’s ability to organize and convene."

Kirk's casket is set to be transported from Utah to Arizona, where his nonprofit organization, Turning Point USA, is based. The incident has raised concerns about political violence in the U.S., with officials noting a troubling trend of attacks across the ideological spectrum.

Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who survived a shooting in 2011, expressed her condolences, saying, "The murder of Charlie Kirk breaks my heart. My deepest sympathies are with his wife, two young children, and friends."

As the investigation continues, law enforcement is urging anyone with information to come forward to help identify the shooter.